Kristin grew up in the far northwestern part of New Jersey on state park land, where her grandfather was the lead ranger and superintendent for 32 years. Now, she serves as Chief of the Migratory Bird Program for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Southwest Region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. The USFWS Southwest Region works with a variety of partners and other agencies, communities, tribal governments, conservation groups, business interests, landowners and concerned citizens to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and their habitat.
Kristin believes that sustainable conservation for any species cannot be achieved without diverse partnerships and excellence in science, and PLJV provides just that, along with the other Migratory Bird Habitat Joint Ventures. In addition, PLJV works in a truly unique landscape with a focus on an often-overlooked yet vital feature on that landscape — playas. Kristin thinks this partnership is a critical piece in our ability to combat the ongoing declines in avian populations while supporting the Ogallala Aquifer, an essential water source, and the people who live in this part of the world.
Kristin spent seven years as an environmental chemist and private pilot in the northeastern United States and has also worked as an avian biologist, environmental educator, and wildlife rehabilitator in New Mexico since 1998. She served as Bird Program Manager and Migratory Game Bird Biologist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Her master’s degree research focused on nest site defense in Cooper’s Hawks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a project that has evolved into several more projects for a variety of researchers and continues today.
Kristin and her family spend time hiking, backpacking, cooking, and trying new whiskies. She spends an inordinate amount of time training her Belgian Malinois who has a seemingly unending supply of energy.